Tarnished Armor
Part 147

Adam and Liza’s bedroom. Night.

Liza is still lying against Adam’s chest. She opens her eyes.

Liza: Adam?

Adam: I’m right here.

Liza reaches over and turns on the light.

Liza looks at Adam.

Liza: You’re still in your suit.

Adam touches her cheek.

Adam: You have a crease from one of my buttons on your cheek.

Liza: I do?

Adam: Yes. I’m sorry about that.

Liza: What time is it?

Adam looks over at the clock.

Adam: Three in the morning.

Liza: The dark night of the soul.

Adam: F. Scott Fitzgerald. “The Crack-up.”

Liza: That’s funny. I thought it was Hemingway.

Adam: No. Hemingway would have said something like, “It’s three in the morning. The lights are out. I hear the fish.”

Liza laughs weakly.

Liza: Where’s Colby?

Adam: Asleep. Hayley took care of her.

Liza: Adam?

Adam: What?

Liza: How do you alphabetize “The Little Prince” when you set up your bookshelves by author?

Adam: “The Little Prince”? I’m not certain I own it.

Liza: But if you did. How would you do it?

Adam: Under “S.”

Liza sighs.

Adam: I would take you for a “D” person, myself.

Liza sits up and looks at him.

Liza: Why?

Adam: I don’t know. I guess because no one puts it under “D.” And since you’re fluent in French, no one would expect you to.

Liza and Adam are quiet for a while.

Liza: What does the little prince say about the stars? What does he call it? At the end.

Adam: It’s been a long time. Let me think. I’m much better with the 19th century, you know.

Liza: Adam.

Adam: I’m thinking. Ah, yes. In the English translation, it’s “a shabby trick.”

Liza: Why?

Adam: I only read the translation.

Liza: Don’t be difficult. You know what I mean. The little prince has decided to ... to die, right? And the guy telling the story --the aviator? -- is wondering how he’ll remember the little prince.

Adam: That’s right. So the little prince says... What does he say? Something like “look at the stars.”

Liza: That sounds right.

Adam: You realize, of course, that we are the last two people anyone would ever imagine discussing this book at three in the morning.

Liza: What do they know?

Liza closes her eyes again and rests against Adam’s chest.

Adam: I think I have it. The prince says to look at the stars, and the aviator will hear his laughter or his crying. Because of the rose.

Liza: The rose?

Adam: Wasn’t there something about a rose?

Liza: No wonder she liked it.

Adam: And there’s something about a sheep.

Liza: Sheep? Why a sheep?

Adam: I can’t remember why. I know there’s a sheep in it somewhere. I think the shabby trick comes in with the laughing and the crying business. Because the aviator will never be sure whether the little prince is laughing or crying. He’ll just hear his friend out there. We can buy the book, if you’d like.

Liza: Okay.

Liza turns over on her side. Adam puts his arms around her.

Adam: Liza?

Liza doesn’t answer.

Adam: Are you awake?

Liza doesn’t answer.

Adam leans over and turns off the light.

Tarnished Armor Index
Part One Hundred and Forty Six
Part One Hundred and Forty Eight